HHS Restructures, Reduces Workforce, and Eliminates Disability-Related Office
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a major restructuring of its agency, reducing the workforce from 82,000 to 62,000, consolidating the number of divisions from 28 to 15, and reducing field offices from 10 to five.
A newly created Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) will combine multiple agencies including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Administration for Community Living, which supports people with disabilities and older Americans, will be dismantled. Programs will be integrated into other departments including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service.
This consolidation and reduction in the workforce raises additional concerns about the Administration's priority to move oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to HHS.